COSTA MESA : New Airport Offices Plan Gets City OK

The City Council has approved a county plan to build new airport administrative offices on the site of an abandoned restaurant near John Wayne Airport.

In a 5-0 decision Monday, the council agreed to allow the county to acquire RW’s Crab Hideout, also known as McCormick’s Landing, at 3180 Airway Ave. Because the property is located within city limits, council approval was required.

“From staff’s point of view, it (conversion) would comply with the General Plan,” Donald Lamm, deputy city manager, told the council.

The plan calls for demolishing the restaurant and building a 26,170-square-foot, two-story building to house airport staff.

The size of the building and how much traffic it would generate raised some concerns among council members. However, county officials assured the council that it would only be used by airport staff and if any changes to the operation occurred, by law, the county must notify the city.

The county has also assured the city that the plan will not cause increased airport traffic.

The airport leases four office suites in an office complex one block west of the airport. The acquisition of the restaurant property would allow the consolidation of the airport staff and give it direct access to the airfield for convenience and during emergencies, officials said.